Boulder Mayor Shaun McGrath, whose background includes working with the nation’s governors, is joining President Barack Obama’s administration as a deputy director for intergovernmental affairs.
McGrath was named to the post Wednesday along with David Agnew, a businessman and community leader in Charleston, S.C.
The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs develops relationships with state and local governments. McGrath, 48, said Wednesday that he will funnel issues that concern America’s governors to Obama and help promote the president’s plan for the states.
“It will really be a two-way communication hearing what the states’ needs are and also communicating to them the president’s priorities and agenda,” McGrath said.
“This is very exciting,” he said, “and very daunting.”
“David and Shaun will work to ensure that our administration is working closely with state and local officials elected by the American people,” Obama said in a statement.
McGrath was first elected to the Boulder City Council in November 2003 and was re-elected in 2005.
He was elected mayor by the City Council in 2007.
McGrath was program director for the Western Governors’ Association, an independent, nonprofit organization where he managed programs on wildlife corridors, sustainable water, renewable energy and climate adaption.
Obama noted that McGrath is mayor of “progressive” Boulder.
McGrath, Obama said, led efforts to establish Boulder as the first smart-grid city in the country and helped pass a climate-action plan in which voters approved the country’s first carbon tax.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907
